BID: Ways of Working Together
A FEW SUGGESTIONS OF HOW BUSINESSES CAN WORK TOGETHER
Following the BID meeting there’s now a better spread of businesses along HCR wanting to work with each other. Perhaps the HCRS Business Rep list, attached, could be used more fully?
Pull all the stops out leading up to the HCR in Harmony Festival: Sunday 18th September 11am-3pm.
It's great if all businesses can be involved in a project but smaller numbers can still make an impact. For example in December 2020 only 25 HCR shops and a few more in London Road had festive windows and yet they still made a splash and amazingly Westcliff won 1st and 2nd prize!
https://www.westcliffpartnership.co.uk/festive-windows
The nine planters in HCR need some attention, so perhaps ask the businesses & residents involved whether they can still keep them watered and free of litter. Or perhaps offer to take over their care. Original list attached. (The HCR in Harmony committee refreshed the plants before last year's festival so perhaps check with them: HCRinHarmony@protonmail.com)
Anti-social behaviour and other crime
Essex Watch staff administer specialist Essex Police Watch schemes including Allotment, Business, Caravan, Dog, Farm & Rural, Heritage and Marine Watch. The BUSINESS WATCH application form is attached for you to join if you wish. Keep a record of all incidents reported, what was done/not done. Follow up at Community Safety meetings and/or Coffee with Cops held regularly.
Use Zero Waste Week 5th-9th September to focus on reducing your use of Plastic and other resources, and save your business money and help the planet. Sign up to both Zero Waste Business https://www.zerowasteweek.co.uk/22-ways-for-businesses-to-take-part-in-zero-waste-week-2022/ and to the Southend Plasticity Project here https://yoursay.southend.gov.uk/plasticitysouthend
Sign up to Southend Business Partnership to receive info on courses, meetings, grants and newsletters such as this: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHENDBC/bulletins/3287607
The Small Business Saturday Tour in November culminating on Saturday 3rd December
Although their nearest tour destination is London, there are loads of useful resources such as Mentoring & Workshops to help you prepare for Sat 3rd December if you want to take part https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour
In the near future I hope the Westcliff Partnership members will be able to form a Community Interest Company. Not only would that share the workload and be better organised but also will mean we would be eligible for significant funding. Contact me if you are interested in making this happen.